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WORLD NEWSFriday 5 January 2018
Taiwan: Prosecutor: More
charges for South
Man investigated over illegal North Korean oil sales Korean ex-leader
By KELVIN CHAN The Lighthouse Winmore, a Hong Kong-flagged ship, is seen in waters off Yeosu, South Korea. By HYUNG-JIN KIM
Associated Press Prosecutors in Taiwan say they are investigating a man suspected of involvement in illegal oil Associated Press
HONG KONG (AP) — Pros- sales after reports last week that South Korean authorities seized the Lighthouse Winmore ship for SEOUL, South Korea (AP) —
ecutors in Taiwan said violating U.N. sanctions by selling oil to North Korea and that a Taiwan company was involved. Prosecutors filed additional
they’re investigating a man bribery charges against
suspected of involvement (Hyung Min-woo/Yonhap via AP) South Korea’s jailed ex-
in illegal oil sales to North president on Thursday, al-
Korea. declared its destination as na Sea in October. inspect and freeze ves- leging she received official
In a statement late Hong Kong. South Korea impounded sels suspected of transfer- funds from her spy chiefs
Wednesday, prosecutors South Korean officials be- the ship, and a second one ring banned goods to the for personal purposes.
said they questioned a lieve the ship, the Light- registered in Panama days country. Another set of Park Geun-hye was re-
man surnamed Chen be- house Winmore, transferred later, after new United Na- U.N. sanctions adopted in moved from office in
fore releasing him on bail about 600 tons of refined tions Security Council sanc- September limits oil imports March 2017 and is on trial
of 1.5 million New Taiwan petroleum products to a tions on North Korea came and includes measures on a broad range of cor-
dollars ($51,000) while they North Korean vessel, the into effect last month that aimed at stopping high- ruption and other charg-
continue their investiga- Sam Jong 2, in the East Chi- let member states seize, seas smuggling. q es that could lead to a
tion. lengthy prison term. Her
The prosecutor’s office in ouster followed months of
southern Kaohsiung began protests that drew millions
its investigation after re- of South Koreans into the
ports last week that South streets calling for her re-
Korean authorities seized moval.
a Hong Kong-flagged ship Among the key charges
for violating U.N. sanctions are that Park colluded
by selling oil to North Korea with longtime confidante
and that a Taiwan compa- Choi Soon-sil to take tens
ny was involved. of millions of dollars from
During questioning, they companies in bribes and
discovered the man, who extortion. The new charges
owns a fishery company, prosecutors imposed Thurs-
knew the oil shipment day accuse Park of receiv-
would be sold in interna- ing a total of 3.5 billion
tional waters but falsely won ($3.3 million) of official
funds from three of her spy
South Korea’s leader apologizes to ex-sex slaves chiefs, said an official at
the Seoul Central District
By HYUNG-JIN KIM South Korean President Moon Jae-in, right, meets with South ly that Moon will complete- Prosecutors’ Office.
Associated Press ly scrap the deal and trig- In October, Park called
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Korean Kim Bok-dong who was forced into sexual slavery by ger a major diplomatic row herself a victim of “politi-
— South Korea’s president with Japan at a time when cal revenge” and her law-
on Thursday apologized to Japan’s military at a hospital in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, they are working closely yers resigned collectively in
Korean women forced into with the United States to an apparent protest after
sexual slavery by Japan’s Jan. 4, 2018. resolve the standoff over a Seoul court decided to
imperial army in World War North Korea’s nuclear pro- extend her detention. The
II over what he called a (South Korea Presidential Blue House via AP) gram. Seoul Central District Court
flawed 2015 deal with To- Historians say tens of thou- later appointed new law-
kyo to settle long-running reaching the deal. Moon ageable” and “unaccept- sands of women from yers for her, but Park hasn’t
disputes over the issue. around Asia, many of them attended court trials since
President Moon Jae-in is- later ordered officials to able.” Korean, were sent to front- then, citing sickness.
sued the apology during a line military brothels to Park’s new charges could
meeting with nine former map out measures to meet In December 2015, the gov- provide sex to Japanese require more hearings to
sexual slavery victims, all of soldiers. Japan colonized review them, but the Seoul
them now elderly women. the victims’ demands, ernment of Moon’s conser- the Korean Peninsula from court is expected to issue
It’s the first time that Moon 1910-45, before it was di- a verdict on her in coming
has apologized over the though he said the issues vative predecessor, Park vided into North and South months, according to the
deal, which was struck be- Korea later. A total of 239 prosecution official. The
fore he took office last May. over history shouldn’t af- Geun-hye, agreed to settle South Korean women have previous charges could al-
“I feel sorry for the fact that officially registered them- ready potentially send her
the deal was reached with- fect the efforts to build the sex slavery dispute in selves as former sex slaves to jail for life.
out listening to your opin- with authorities, a status Park, the daughter of a
ions and was against your “future-oriented” relations return for an apology from that makes them eligible deeply divisive dictator,
wills. I’m offering words for state subsidy and ben- became South Korea’s first
of apology as president,” between the countries. Japan’s prime minister and efits. Thirty two of them are female president in early
Moon said. still alive. Experts say many 2013. A small number of
Last week, a state-ap- Moon’s moves placed the a pledge of 1 billion yen other former sex slaves Park’s supporters — many
pointed panel concluded haven’t come forward in their 50s, 60s and 70s —
Seoul’s previous conser- prospect for the deal into ($8.8 million). Park was later largely out of worries about have been rallying near
vative government failed social stigma in a conserva- the court and elsewhere
to properly communicate doubt, with Tokyo warning removed from office over a tive country that had long in South Korea in recent
with the victims before prized women’s chastity.q months, calling for her re-
that any attempt to revise separate corruption scan- lease. q
the accord would make dal and is now on a trial.
bilateral relations “unman- Some experts say it’s unlike-
